[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11486-11487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05502]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Eligibility Criteria for Tribal and Alaska Native Biomass
Demonstration Projects Under the Indian Tribal Energy Development and
Self-Determination Act
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of Eligibility Criteria for Biomass
Demonstration Projects.
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SUMMARY: The Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination
Act Amendments of 2017 amends the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004
to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), to enter into contracts
or agreements with Indian tribes, and, in Alaska, tribal organizations
to carry out demonstration projects to promote biomass energy
production on Indian forest land and in nearby communities by providing
reliable supplies of woody biomass from federal lands.
The Act contains Eligibility Criteria required to be addressed by
an Indian tribe or tribal organization in their application to the
Secretary, in order to enter into Biomass Demonstration Projects. The
Eligibility Criteria are required to be made publically available not
later than 120 days after the date of the Act's enactment. The Act also
contains Selection Criteria, which will be used, without modification,
by the Secretary to evaluate applications submitted. The Act's
Eligibility and Selection Criteria will be used, without modification,
to select biomass demonstration projects on lands under the
jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture.
DATES: This Notice is applicable upon the date of publication in the
Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Documents may be viewed on the World-Wide internet at
https://www.fs.fed.us/spf/tribalrelations/authorities.shtml.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Church, Assistant Director,
Forest Products, 202-205-1732, during normal business hours, or send an
email to [email protected]. Additional information about this
notice may be obtained on the World-Wide
[[Page 11487]]
internet at https://www.fs.fed.us/spf/tribalrelations/authorities.shtml. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1-800-877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time,
Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 202 of Public Law 115-325, the Indian Tribal Energy
Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017 amends the
Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a et seq.) for the
purpose of establishing Tribal and Alaska Native biomass demonstration
projects for federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native
corporations to promote biomass energy production, on Bureau of Land
Management and Forest Service lands.
For Tribal Biomass Demonstration Projects, the Act requires, for
each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the Secretary to enter into
stewardship contracts or similar agreements (excluding direct service
contracts) with Indian tribes to carry out at least four new
demonstration projects to promote biomass energy production (including
biofuel, heat, and electricity generation) on Indian forest land, and
in nearby communities, by providing reliable supplies of woody biomass
from Federal land.
For Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects, the Act requires,
for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the Secretary to enter into
an agreement or contract with an Indian tribe or a tribal organization
to carry out at least one new demonstration project to promote biomass
energy production (including biofuel, heat, and electricity generation)
by providing reliable supplies of woody biomass from Federal land. The
terms Indian tribe and tribal organization have the same meanings as
defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
(section 4, 25 U.S.C. 5304).
Eligibility Criteria
The Act's Eligibility Criteria, without modification, will be used
to select biomass demonstration projects on Forest Service lands under
the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Act's Tribal
Biomass Demonstration Project Eligibility Criteria require the Indian
tribe submit, to the Secretary of Agriculture, an application: (1)
Containing such information as the Secretary may require; and (2) that
includes a description of (A) the Indian forest land or rangeland under
the jurisdiction of the Indian tribe; and (B) the demonstration project
proposed to be carried out by the Indian tribe.
The Act's Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Project Eligibility
Criteria require the Indian tribe or tribal organization submit, to the
Secretary of Agriculture, an application: (1) Containing such
information as the Secretary may require; and (2) that includes a
description of the demonstration project proposed to be carried out by
the Indian tribe or tribal organization.
Selection Criteria
The Act's Selection Criteria, without modification, will be used to
evaluate applications submitted for biomass demonstration projects on
Forest Service lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of
Agriculture.
In evaluating the applications submitted under the Act's Tribal
Biomass Demonstration Project Eligibility Criteria, the Secretary of
Agriculture is required to: (1) To take into consideration (A) the
factors set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 2(e) of the
Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004; and (B) whether a proposed
project would--
(i) Increase the availability or reliability of local or regional
energy;
(ii) Enhance the economic development of the Indian tribe;
(iii) Result in or improve the connection of electric power
transmission facilities serving the Indian tribe with other electric
transmission facilities;
(iv) Improve the forest health or watersheds of Federal land or
Indian forest land or rangeland;
(v) Demonstrate new investments in infrastructure; or
(vi) Otherwise promote the use of woody biomass; and
(2) exclude from consideration any merchantable logs that have been
identified by the Secretary for commercial sale.
In evaluating the applications submitted under the Alaska Native
Biomass Demonstration Project Eligibility Criteria, the Secretary of
Agriculture is required to
(A) take into consideration whether a proposed project would--
(i) Increase the availability or reliability of local or regional
energy;
(ii) Enhance the economic development of the Indian tribe;
(iii) Result in or improve the connection of electric power
transmission facilities serving the Indian tribe with other electric
transmission facilities;
(iv) Improve the forest health or watersheds of Federal land or
non-Federal land;
(v) Demonstrate new investments in infrastructure; or
(vi) Otherwise promote the use of woody biomass; and
(B) exclude from consideration any merchantable logs that have been
identified by the Secretary for commercial sale.
Dated: March 8, 2019.
Allen Rowley,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2019-05502 Filed 3-26-19; 8:45 am]
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